The National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba is making history as it performs its first U.S. tour since the Castro revolution this fall.

One of the stops is Nov. 8 at the Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce. As hard as it is to make anything related to Cuba not sound political to its expatriates, the man who helped bring the ensemble here wants to stick to music only.

Cuban pianist Ignacio 'Nachito' Herrera debuted his career at age 12 performing with the orchestra. Now living in Minnesota, he has been trying to bring the group to the U.S. since last year. Because of his efforts, some anti-Castro radio stations in Miami stopped playing his music, he said.

When Herrera performs as a soloist with the 85-member piece at the Sunrise, it will be the first time he plays with the orchestra in 34 years.

Some Cuban acts that performed in the U.S. have angered anti-Castro immigrants in the past. Most recently, a famous Havana-based actress couldn't perform at a traditional Cuban night club in Miami. She allegedly participated in acts of repudiation against people who left the country during the 1980 Mariel boatlift.

But Herrera said he does not expect any picketing and hopes people do not mix politics with music.

"We are musicians. We are not politicians," he said. "We are not playing here because we are collecting money for the (Cuban) government."

Herrera said the orchestra did not travel to the U.S. before because promoters usually prefer to bring traditional Cuban dance acts. The musicians are traveling on a cultural exchange visa, which is not hard for Cubans to get, he said.

The tour is stopping in Tampa, which has a significant Cuban population, but is skipping Miami, a hub of anti-Castro politics. Herrera said the promoters of the show could not find venues on the right dates, but he said he wants to stop in the Magic City when he brings the orchestra for a second tour.

"I think Miami has a wonderful classical music audience," Herrera said. "I have played there before. I always have a great time."

Herrera started learning music at age 7 while in Cuba's school system. At 12, he stunned audiences when he performed Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 with the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba. He went on to work as musical director of the famed Tropicana Club in Havana when he was in his 20s.

He settled in Minnesota when he got an artist-in-residence visa to work as musical director for a theatrical production. He said he decided to stay because of his job and was granted permanent residence under the "dry-foot, wet-foot" policy that benefits Cubans. After 18 months, he also brought his family.

Herrera was in Cuba this month to rehearse for the orchestra tour, which opened Oct. 16 in Kansas City. The 85 members flew from Havana into Miami. So far none of them have defected to the U.S., he said. It is not unusual for Cuban artists and athletes to ask for political asylum while traveling to other countries, but Herrera said he has not heard of any orchestra members who did that in the past.

"We are not going to motivate anybody to (defect)," he said. "I can't guarantee that's not going to happen. It's something that's their decision."

While in Kansas City, the musicians had their first American breakfast — waffles and bacon — and Herrera said they liked it. But they were not so enthusiastic about American coffee, which is not as strong and sweet as the coffee Cubans are used to. Herrera said that despite living in the U.S. for more than a decade, he still carries a Cuban espresso maker when he goes on tour and he might have it backstage while in Fort Pierce.

"I don't care if I forget my clothes," Herrera said. "That's something you can buy anywhere. But my coffee maker has to come with me all the time."